Nebraska star Bruce Dern hasn’t been nominated for an Oscar since 1979, but it looks like the 77-year-old actor’s career is far from winding down. Dern’s most recent movie role earned him a 2014 nomination for Best Actor and “the sort of praise that makes and remakes careers,” as Vulture wrote.

So how did his acting career begin? Dern can pinpoint it to one specific moment — back when he was in college and didn’t make the Olympic team as a runner. Watch the video above to learn more.